TRAP1 ameliorates renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction by protecting renal tubular epithelial cell mitochondria.

Mitochondrial dysfunction causes renal tubular epithelial cell injury and promotes cell apoptosis and renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) progression. TNF receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) is a molecular chaperone protein that is localized in mitochondria. It plays an important role in cell apoptosis; however, its functional mechanism in TIF remains unclear. In this study, we observed the effects of TRAP1 in renal tubular epithelial cell mitochondria in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction and its function in cell apoptosis and TIF. Results show that TRAP1 could protect the mitochondrial structure in renal tubular epithelial cells; maintain the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP, and mitochondrial DNA copy number; inhibit reactive oxygen species production; stabilize the expression of the mitochondrial inner membrane protein mitofilin; reduce renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis; and inhibit TIF. These results provide new theoretical foundations for additional understanding of the antifibrotic mechanism of TRAP1 in the kidney.-Chen, J.-F., Wu, Q.-S., Xie, Y.-X., Si, B.-L., Yang, P.-P., Wang, W.-Y., Hua, Q., He, Q. TRAP1 ameliorates renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction by protecting renal tubular epithelial cell mitochondria.

[Prenatal ultrasonography for fetus with hydronephrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between classification and prognosis of hydronephrosis in fetus. METHODS: 226 pregnant women in their pregnant weeks 20 - 40 who were suggested to be with fetuses suffering from hydronephrosis underwent ultrasonography to observe the configuration of the kidneys, form and size of renal pelvis, extent of calyces, and thickness of renal cortex of their fetuses. The ultrasonography was conducted regularly and the outcome after birth was followed up. RESULTS: 143 fetuses (186 kidneys) were diagnosed as with hydronephrosis of grade I with the anteroposterior diameter of the renal pelvis from 0.3 to 1.1 cm that fadeawayed soon after birth with a good prognosis. 47 fetuses (52 kidneys) were diagnosed as with hydronephrosis of grade II with the anteroposterior diameter of the renal pelvis from 1.0 to 1.8 cm, most of which remised gradually after birth, and only about 5% of which became worse along with the time of pregnancy and needed surgery after birth. 10 fetuses (10 kidneys) were diagnosed as with hydronephrosis of grade III with the anteroposterior diameter of the renal pelvis from 1.5 to 3.3 cm about 70% of which showed a tendency to deteriorate along with the time of pregnancy and after birth, and the neonates needed surgery after birth. Eight fetuses (10 kidneys) were diagnosed as with hydronephrosis of grade IV with the anteroposterior diameter of renal pelvis from 1.5 to 7.2 cm that needed surgery after birth. CONCLUSION: Follow-up and monitoring are not necessary for those fetus with hydronephrosis of grade I; however, regular ultrasonography is needed for the those with hydronephrosis of grade II and over.